Batman: The Video Game

Batman: The Video Game brings to the Game Boy an action-platforming portrayal of Batman that was released on the NES at the same time by the same studio, though as a separately designed title adapted for the smaller display. As Batman, the player goes through a series of levels inspired by the character's film adaptation, fights hordes of henchmen as well as familiar villains, and at certain points flies with the bat-glider in special bonus sections that break up the classic platforming passages with faster, flowing action.

The controls are direct and focused on a combination of jumps and close-range attacks, supplemented by a limited supply of batarang-style throwing weapons that must be used judiciously. As the player progresses through the game, they encounter increasingly difficult arrangements of enemies and traps, which requires precisely memorizing the placement of threats as well as repeated attempts at the more demanding sections. The bat-glider breaks the monotony of purely platforming passages and brings a faster, more action-packed pace to the game. Despite the monochrome display, the graphics faithfully evoke the dark, gothic atmosphere of Gotham City through contrasting silhouettes and detailed street and interior environments. The musical accompaniment underscores the tense, action-packed mood and is among what players remember most about the game, even considering the handheld's hardware limitations.

The game received a positive reception, mainly for how convincingly it translated the film license into a playable and visually cohesive form on the small display, without feeling like a hastily assembled side product. In the context of the genre, it shows how licensed titles of the time could hold up even without depending on an exact recreation of the film source, thanks to their own solid game framework. Today it's seen as one of the better licensed platformers of the early Game Boy, thanks in part to its striking atmosphere and unforgettable music, which has outlived even much newer titles.

Why play it: For its atmospheric and unforgettable music, thanks to which it ranks among the best licensed platformers of the early Game Boy and has outlived even much newer titles.